Hat-conformator.



J. R. MUKINLESS.'

HAT GONPORMATOR.

APPLIGATIDN FILED Nov. 15, 1909.

1,017,009. Patented Feb.13,1912.

' IIIIIIIIINIX @VW JAMES R. MCKINLESS, 0F OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR,BY MSNE. ASSIGN- MENTS, TO INTERNATIONAL CONFORMER COMPANY, ACORPORATION OF CALI- FORNIA.

HAT-CONFORMATOR.

Application led November 15, 1909;

.To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES R. McKrNLnss,

a citizen of the United States, residing in Oakland, in the county ofAlameda and State of California, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Hat-Conformators, of which the following is aspecification. This invention relates to improvements in appliances usedby hatters for ascertaining the size and peculiar shape of a customershead, for the purpose of setting or adjusting the hat block by means ofwhich the work of shaping the hat is carried on and an accurate fittingof the hat to the head is obtained.

Appliances of this character are generally termed hat conformators, andas heretofore constructed such an appliance operates to produce atemplet or outline of the relative size and conformation of thecustomers head, and this templet is afterward used to set or adjust thesectional hat block by means of which the hat is shaped and brought tothe required conformation in the usual manner to lit the customers head;the two operations of first producing the templet by means of theconformator, and then adjust-ing and making ready the block by means ofthe templet, being necessary before the work of shaping and sizing thehat is undertaken.

The present inventionv has as its object to dispense with the productionof a templet or profile pattern, and to adjust and set a sectional hatblock directly from the head of the customer, thereby materiallyreducing and simplifying the work of shaping and fitting a hat.

A further object of this invention is the production of a hatconformator having several useful features, and especially the novelfeature of setting and adjusting a sectional hat-block which forms apart or element of the complete appliance or apparatus.

To these ends and objects chiefly my said invention comprises adetachable sectional hat-block and means connecting the adjustablesegments or elements with the ribs or movable elements of theconformator, whereby the said parts are operatively connected while theappliance is being fitted to the head, with the eect to set or adjustthe hat block by the same operation; the hat block Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 13, 1912.

serial No. 528,110,

being detached for use after such adjusting or conformating operation isfinished.

A hat conformator of my invention consists therefore of the novel partsand combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in theclaims at the end of this specification.

The accompanying drawing illustrates a hat conformator embodying theinvention.

Figure l is a perspective view showing the detachable hat-block inposition on the conformator body ready for taking the size and profileof a customers head. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, showingthe sectional hat block detached from the setting or adjusting mechanismof the appliance.

A novel feature in a hat conformator of my invention consists intemporarily or det-achably connecting each segment or movable element ofthe sectional hat-block with a rib or movable element or member of theconformator-body in such manner that the position of the segments of thehat block will correspond to and represent the relative position of theribs or movable elements of the conformation after the appliance hasbeen properly adjusted and fitted on the cusp tomers head, and it onlyremains then to detach and remove the hat block from the other part ofthe appliance after its segments or elements are locked or otherwiseconfined in position, when it is ready for use in the work of shapingthe hat.

A further novel feature of the invention consists in improved means oflocking or fixing the segments of the hat block after their adjustmentby the conformator, by operating a single clamping screw.

As embodied in the appliance illustrated in the drawing the conformatorA is composed of a plurality of radially set movable ribs each having aperpendicular bar a, a horizontal top bar b and a foot d, both lying insubstantially a vertical plane and eX- tending in radial lines, the oneinward or toward the center and the other extending radially outward.These two horizontally extending bars of each upright rib serveprimarily to space and guide the ribs in their movements on radiallines, and to that end the sockets are provided in the top frame e andin the bottom frame f of the conformator body in which the bars beforementioned are fitted to slide with the required extent of movement onradiating lines.

The detachable part B of the applianceherein termed the hat-block-isprovided with the same number of segments g slidable on radiating linesin planes corresponding generally with the movable top-bars of the ribsa, with which they arel separately connected, so as to move uniformlywith those parts. Such connection or attachment of the hat block to arib is preferably made by a st-ud or standing projection 7L on the topbar Z), and a socket or aperture 7c in the underside of the segmentsituated directly over the bar, the projection fitting closely in thesocket, and both projection and socket being tapered to center thesegment and join or connect the parts rigidly together for the time.This style or character of connecting means is employed on account ofthe readiness with which the parts can be detached and the block removedfor the further operation of shaping the hat after the adjustment iseifected.

A further novel feature in the construction of the hat-block consists ina means for clamping or rigidly holding all the movable segments by oneoperation of a single screw, in .place of a number of clamping devicesrequiring a number of separate and successive operations in everyadjustment of the hat block before removing it from the conformator.

In the preferred construction herein illustrated the segments g areconfined between a top plate m and a bottom plate n drawn together by abolt 79 passing through the top plate and fitted with a thumb-nut s.Stoppins t in the bottom-plate taking in slots in the slidable segmentsserve to confine and limit the latter in their movements.

A coiled spring o on the top bar of each rib or movable element of theconformator controls the movements of those parts, causing them tocontract or expand in the proper manner to conform to the shape of thehead on which the appliance is placed. These springs situated in thismanner at or near the upper ends of the ribs have the effect to applytheir force or strain in such 'a direct manner upon the slidablesegments when they are attached to the ribs, that they will respond toand follow the movements of the ribs without producing any binding orun-Y due strain upon the latter.

As the space heretofore provided for the Copies of this patent may beobtained for able hat-block composed of a plurality of slidablesegments, means detachably convnecting each slidable segment with amovable element on the conformator, and means for clamping all themovable segments be.- fore detaching the hat-block.

2. In a hat-conformator, a plurality of movable elements arranged aroundan oval space adapted to admit the head of a person and having yieldingmovement on radial lines whereby said elements are set to conform to theshape and size of the inserted head by contact therewith, in combinationwith a detachable hat-block having a plurality of movable segments,means operating to connect each segment with a movable element of theconformator whereby the same will be correspondingly set by the movementof the movable element, and means for fixing the said segments inposition after such adjustment.

3. In a hat conformator, a sectional hatblock having a plurality ofmovable segments adjustable generally radially around an oval center,and means for clamping said segments after adjustment, comprising a topplate and a bottom plate and a centrally operating means for tighteningsaid plates upon the segments, in combination with a conformatorincluding in its structure adjustable'elements movable radially incorresponding manner to the segments of the hat-block by contact withthe head on which the conformator is placed, and means detachablyconnecting each adjustable element on the conformator with a segment inthe hat-block.

JAMES It. MCKINLESS.

lVitnesses:

E. E. OsBoRN, M. REGNER.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington,D. C.

